STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In much publicized PIL highlighting the dance of death on the roads particularly on Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban National Highway and Mughal Road, a Division Bench (DB) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice N Kotishwar Singh and Justice WS Nagral after hearing Adv Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Adv Supriya Chouhan for the PIL whereas Sr. AAG SS Nanda for the UT of J&K and Vishal Sharma for the UOI, directed respondents authorities will initiate necessary steps for implementation of the said suggestions made by the Expert Committee with the concerned authorities and accordingly, a report be submitted before this Court after reopening, for further consideration on July 15, 2024.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, DB observed that Compliance report has been submitted on behalf of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, the Nodal Officer appointed by this Court in terms of order dated December 7, 2023 in this matter and report has made certain suggestions. On the basis of the Expert Committee report, which after visiting the spots has made certain suggestions, which have been enumerated in para-4 of its report, which reads as, “Measures with respect to Ramban, Batote-Doda and Kishtwar National Highway 244 are as under: The road section from Khellani zig to Ganpat Bridge Doda and that from Hasti to Kishtwar need to be widened as a 2-lane carriageway with proper safety measure. Road studs as per IRC Code, lane marking and edges line marking, transverse bar marking (TBM), paved shoulder, Thrie Beam Crash Barrier, Modified E-centric load terminal, object hazard marker, cross drainage structure, built-up area caution sign need to be installed.
Block spots-1 in Assar village NH-244 passes through very steep gradient, blind curves and hairpin bends, 150 meter of road section went into the reservoir. After that incident, BRO constructed this section in a short span of 1.5 month. The construction was done by BRO for emergency purpose, thus the safety standards are not perfect. Copy of report of the Expert Committee dated March 14, 2024 with respect to Ramban, Batote-Doda and Kishtwar National Highway 244 is enclosed as Annexure-1.
Measures with respect to Mughal road section between Buffliaz and Poshiana (28Km) are as under:-(i) The Expert Committee recommends the installation of Road studs as per IRC Code, lane marking and edges line marking, transverse bar marking (TBM), paved shoulder, Thrie Beam Crash Barrier, Modified E-centric load terminal, object hazard marker, cross drainage structure, built-up area caution sign at various locations. (ii) For accident black spots several measures are recommended.
Few are listed for reference as under Spot 1- Crash Barriers need to be installed with night time safety measures. Spot 2- Objection hazard marking is required. (c) Spot 3- Crash Barriers were not continues.
DB said that Copy of report of the Expert Committee dated 14.03.2024 with respect to Mughal road section between Buffliaz and Poshiana (28 Km) is also enclosed.